Hi Kriss,

The problem in a nutshell is that all teeth require vitality to remain healthy. Once a root canal is done, there is no turning back, the vitality is gone. There is no way to "save", as in cure or bring back to life, a tooth that has already been root canaled or one that is infected and/or fractured in a way that would cause the tooth to die on it's own. To re treat the tooth with another root canal does not alter the condition of the tooth other than to weaken it even further. To perform a surgical apicoectomy is a barbaric procedure that causes additional bacteria and inflammation and it does not alter the death state of that tooth.

The term "save" when used in dentistry means to "retain" the tooth that is non vital and compromised. The only other option you would have had at the time of your accident other than root canal therapy was removal of those teeth. If you weren't offered that option at that time, then that is where the fault lies with the attending dentist at that time. If you were told that root canaling the teeth was going to cure them from future problems.....and you were not informed of the long term risks of root canal therapy, then you were misinformed and that is where the fault lies with the dentists who treated you without discussing all of the information.

Your dental problems have nothing to do with who did or does the root canal or the root canal being done wrong or the root canal failing or the post moving or not being put in correctly. Those statements are routinely told to the "uninformed" patient because again, most patients have no clue and the dentists assume you want to "retain" your tooth so they will sell you another root canal re treatment and/or an apicoectomy. The problem is strictly an issue of having a dead tooth that cannot be rejuvenated and the only remedy is to remove the source of the problem which is the tooth/teeth. I know this is very hard to read..... I am so sorry :/

The dental board will be of no use to you because unfortunately, root canal therapy is acceptable "standard of care" dentistry even when no other options are given to the patient. Dentists generally assume the patient wants to "retain" their tooth so that is what they sell the patient on doing. The dentist is not doing this in a malicious manner, it's just become a way of doing business and many people wouldn't know to blink an eye at it. Many dental personal, assistants, hygienists, receptionists.... are not properly informed either because they weren't taught this in any depth in school and they just go along with the usual day in and day out routine. I personally learned about all of this, as did some others, by working with dentists who were open minded and concerned about the level of bacteria in root canaled teeth and after biopsying many thousands of these teeth, the pathology was too great to overlook.

You may get the run around from your previous dentist with xrays and so forth simply because your situation is commonly seen in all dental offices and they know that the history of the teeth is irrelevant at this point because the endo is done and the teeth are compromised.

The bottom line is to know that you have choices. One is to re treat with root canal therapy or do an apicoectomy, both of which are very costly and will not change your dental problem at all. Two is to discuss replacement options for this tooth (and the other three) which would be long term solutions to your dental problem. It's important to stress to your dentist that you are seeking a healthy, long term solution... this will make him more likely too be more open with you.

Again, I sincerely apologize for all of this heavy information. I wish there was a third option that was more to your liking and less costly and invasive.

Please keep in touch here...
Bryanna